Fluor Leadership Takes Over Expansion of Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant

The American engineering giant Fluor has announced that its joint venture has received the green light for the design phase of the new units 3 and 4 of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant in Romania. This consortium, led by Fluor, includes AtkinsRéalis, Sargent & Lundy, and Ansaldo Nucleare. Under the limited notice to proceed, Fluor and its partners will provide critical decision-making information leading to a final investment decision. This includes engineering plans, a revised cost estimate and timeline, as well as initial reports on nuclear safety and technical documentation. The contract was signed by EnergoNuclear, a subsidiary of the Romanian Societatea Nationala Nuclearelectrica, during the United Nations COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Romanian Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja and the U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm both attended the contract signing. Pierre Bechelany, President of Fluor LNG & Power, emphasized the importance of nuclear energy as a safe and clean energy source. He added that the project is crucial for the growing power demand both in Romania and in Eastern Europe as a whole. The plant in Cernavoda, currently producing 1.4 GW and covering 20% of Romania's electricity needs, will nearly double its output with the new units. The expansion marks an important step in Romania's strategy for sustainable energy supply. Already at the beginning of 2024, Ansaldo Nucleare signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Societatea Nationala Nuclearelectrica, which includes the refurbishment of unit 1 and the construction of units 3 and 4, supported by the Italian export credit agency SACE.